Dow Crag

Dow Crag

Dow Crag is a 778-metre Wainwright in the Southern Fells. Its highest point is a bare rock outcrop at SD 26254 97793, with no summit cairn. Summit details.

The ridge brings views towards the Scafells, Morecambe Bay and the Duddon Estuary. The final summit rocks need hands as well as feet, with a substantial drop beside them. Treat this as a mountain outing with summit scrambling, rather than an ordinary path walk. Ridge and summit account.

A circuit above Goat’s Water

WalkLakes gives this Walna Scar car-park circuit as 10.5 km with 574 metres of ascent. Its 2 hours 58 minutes is a minimum walking time; allow generously for stops and summit rocks. Route figures.

From the car park, follow the Walna Scar track west, ignoring the Old Man turn. At the pass, turn right to Brown Pike. Continue over Buck Pike towards Dow Crag, keeping away from the eastern drops. Ascent.

The highest rocks have large gaps. Bypass paths avoid the rocky tops, but do not count as reaching the summit. Summit terrain.

Continue north to Goat’s Hawse. Turn right down the stepped path to Goat’s Water and follow its left-hand shore as you descend. Stay by the tarn rather than climbing into loose scree. Beyond it, skirt The Cove, rejoin Walna Scar track and turn left to the car park. Complete return.

Keep walking routes separate from climbs

The eastern face is climbing terrain, with buttresses, gullies and multi-pitch routes. Do not improvise a descent towards Goat’s Water from the summit cliffs. Rockfax specifically warns against descending Easy Gully or Great Gully. South Rake belongs to a separate scrambling or climbing plan, not this circuit’s return. Rockfax crag guidance.

Rock beneath your feet

The summit’s mapped bedrock is Borrowdale Sill Suite, an intrusive igneous unit. Local geology.

The British Geological Survey describes sills formed within, and at the same time as, the Borrowdale Volcanic Group. Its sills include basalt, andesite, dacite and rhyolite: evidence of magma intruding into existing rock layers during the region’s volcanic history. BGS rock-unit description.

Parking, buses and access

Walna Scar’s pay-and-display car park is reached by a steep single-track road from Coniston. Approach information.

The National Park lists card payments and RingGo for Walna Scar. Check signs for current charges. Toilets are listed at Ruskin Avenue and the Boating Centre in Coniston. Parking and facilities.

Stagecoach 505 serves Coniston via Hawkshead and Ambleside. It does not reach the upland car-park start: include the extra approach and return in your plans, and check services for your travel date. 505 timetable.

Before travelling, check access notices and respect temporary restrictions. On shared paths, leave room for riders and cyclists, and keep dogs controlled. National Park access advice.

Preparing for the day

Carry a map and compass, waterproofs, warm spare layers, food, water and a headtorch. Check a mountain forecast and choose a route that suits the whole party. Snow, ice, wind and poor visibility increase the demands of exposed rocky ground; turn back if conditions exceed your skills. Leave your plan and return time with someone. In an emergency, call 999 or 112 and ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue. Mountain Rescue advice.